This column is supplied by Derek Knight, tel (01430) 861988 and Julie Cartner, tel (01904) 491478 who are consultants for ADAS in East and North Yorkshire.

LAST Friday, from the hillside above Thorpe Bassett the huge extent of the current flooding through Malton and out into the Vale of Pickering was clear to see. Words of sympathy are all that many of us can offer to those who have been thrown into crisis by recent events.

Many thousands of acres now lie underwater or are so wet that they will be inaccessible for many months. For the moment, it is difficult to think ahead, so much effort is required simply to protect properties from further damage and to do the essential daily tasks.

The effects of floods vary according to crop and stage of growth. Grass, after it all drains, will be little affected; arable grain crops, recently sown or established, will only last a few days underwater; early-drilled crops that were well established could last up to a week. For many, the greater concern will be unharvested roots, potatoes and sugar beet will both stand short periods of flooding but quality and storability will be greatly impaired.

Much of the land currently flooded or saturated had been planned for winter wheat sowing. For some soil types, this might still be possible and most winter wheats can be sown until the end of January. For the heaviest of clay soils, spring cropping is probably the only realistic alternative. On lighter soils, it has to be wait and see what conditions will allow you to do; late sown winter wheat can still perform well. The technique you employ now will depend on conditions and how much you have to do.

Broadcasting might allow large acreages to be established quickly. However, if you do this, increase seed rates, as unconsolidated seed beds lead to slow emergence and slug damage.

Seed for spring alternatives will be in short supply, so if you can, use what you have in the barn. In economic terms, spring wheat and barley are the best options. There is little to chose between spring beans, peas and oilseed rape, each will leave a similar gross margin. Spring linseed lags some way behind now that the subsidy it attracts has been reduced.

The decision will depend on your soil type, your personal preference and what seed you can purchase. The cereals are probably easier for most people to deal with, but they will require separate storage if you are to secure those much sought after premiums. They will also be later to harvest than their winter cousins, which may have consequences for the following year's cropping. The spring break crops, whilst not having such large gross margins, do have the advantage of offering a better entry for winter wheat in the following year.

Whichever crop you chose, planning is essential, not only economic but a practical consideration of workload and storage capacity is required.

An option much talked about is to increase set-aside to 50pc. This, at first glance, seems fine but it leads to a huge loss of output and, unless you can cut the fixed costs as well, will lead to a worse financial position. This may be attractive to people who use contractors for all of their work, but for most people who have their own equipment and labour, it is a non-starter.

I hope by the time you read this you will have dried out a little and are past the emergency stages.